# Te-Hina Paopao
**Te-Hina Paopao** (pronounced Tuh-HEE-nuh Pow-Pow; born 2002) is an American professional basketball player for the [Atlanta Dream](https://www.edgepedia.org/atlanta-dream) of the WNBA. A 5-foot-9 guard from [Oceanside, California](https://www.edgepedia.org/oceanside-california), she was drafted 18th overall by the Dream in the second round of the 2025 WNBA Draft after a college career at Oregon and [South Carolina](https://www.edgepedia.org/south-carolina), where she won an NCAA championship in 2024.[1](https://www.wnba.com/draft/2025/prospects/196367/te-hina-paopao) • [2](https://goducks.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/tehina-paopao/11376)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 2002, Oceanside, California[1](https://www.wnba.com/draft/2025/prospects/196367/te-hina-paopao) |
| Position, size | Guard, 5-9[1](https://www.wnba.com/draft/2025/prospects/196367/te-hina-paopao) |
| College | Oregon (2021-23), South Carolina (2023-25)[1](https://www.wnba.com/draft/2025/prospects/196367/te-hina-paopao) |
| College honors | NCAA champion (2024, undefeated season); USBWA Second Team All-American (2024); two-time All-Pac-12 First Team (2021, 2022)[3](https://www.wnba.com/player/1642804/te-hina-paopao/bio) • [2](https://goducks.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/tehina-paopao/11376) |
| Draft | 2025 WNBA Draft, round 2, pick 6 (18th overall), Atlanta Dream[1](https://www.wnba.com/draft/2025/prospects/196367/te-hina-paopao) |
| Signature skill | Perimeter shooting; led NCAA in 3-point percentage in 2023-24 and set a South Carolina record with 14 made 3s in a single NCAA tournament[4](https://gopack.com/documents/download/2024/11/8/02_SCNotes-vsNCState.pdf) • [5](https://storage.googleapis.com/gamecocksonline-com/2025/04/c186539e-38_scnotes-ncaa5.pdf) |
| WNBA rookie year | Key rotational guard for Atlanta in 2025; season averages of 3.7 points, 0.8 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game[3](https://www.wnba.com/player/1642804/te-hina-paopao/bio) |
## Early life and high school
Paopao attended La Jolla Country Day School in Oceanside, California, where she was named a McDonald's All-American, California Gatorade Player of the Year, and Cal-Hi Sports Ms. Basketball Player of the Year in 2020.[1](https://www.wnba.com/draft/2025/prospects/196367/te-hina-paopao) • [3](https://www.wnba.com/player/1642804/te-hina-paopao/bio)
## College career
**Oregon (2021-23).** Paopao started three seasons for the Ducks and made an immediate impact, leading all NCAA freshmen with a 2.40 assist-to-turnover ratio while ranking fourth in the Pac-12 in assists per game as a rookie.[2](https://goducks.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/tehina-paopao/11376) She was named to the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team in 2021 and the All-Pac-12 First Team in both 2021 and 2022.[1](https://www.wnba.com/draft/2025/prospects/196367/te-hina-paopao) As a junior in 2022-23 she started all 35 games, averaged 13.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.3 assists, and shot 42.4 percent from three; her 81 made 3-pointers were second-most in the conference, and she scored a season-high 28 points against No. 6 Stanford in the Pac-12 Tournament quarterfinals, going 7-for-10 from behind the arc.[2](https://goducks.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/tehina-paopao/11376)
After that season she entered the transfer portal seeking a new, challenging environment, and committed to South Carolina under head coach [Dawn Staley](https://www.edgepedia.org/dawn-staley).[6](https://www.thestate.com/sports/college/university-of-south-carolina/usc-womens-basketball/article281926733.html)
**South Carolina (2023-25).** Paopao started all 37 games for the Gamecocks in 2023-24, averaging 11.0 points while shooting 46.8 percent from three, and earned USBWA Second Team All-American and All-SEC Second Team honors.[7](https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/te-hina-paopao-1.html) • [3](https://www.wnba.com/player/1642804/te-hina-paopao/bio) She led the NCAA in 3-point percentage that season.[4](https://gopack.com/documents/download/2024/11/8/02_SCNotes-vsNCState.pdf) South Carolina completed an undefeated national championship run in 2023-24, only the fifth program in NCAA history to do so, and in the title game against Iowa, with the Gamecocks trailing 46-44 in the final minute of the first half, Paopao hit a 3-pointer that helped South Carolina take a 49-46 halftime lead in the eventual 87-75 win.[5](https://storage.googleapis.com/gamecocksonline-com/2025/04/c186539e-38_scnotes-ncaa5.pdf) • [8](https://apnews.com/article/80c556d6a9130a301d0f59e6eb997a4d) Her 14 made 3-pointers in the 2024 tournament set the school record for most made 3s in a single NCAA tournament.[5](https://storage.googleapis.com/gamecocksonline-com/2025/04/c186539e-38_scnotes-ncaa5.pdf)
She returned for a fifth college season in 2024-25, adding [All-America](https://www.edgepedia.org/all-america) status for a second year, and scored 14 points in South Carolina's 74-57 Final Four win over Texas that April.[5](https://storage.googleapis.com/gamecocksonline-com/2025/04/c186539e-38_scnotes-ncaa5.pdf) • [9](https://apnews.com/article/9181f9d8ecc8513d2284cf0da468e3fc) Across her career she earned all-conference honors every year, spanning two conferences.[5](https://storage.googleapis.com/gamecocksonline-com/2025/04/c186539e-38_scnotes-ncaa5.pdf)
## WNBA career
The Atlanta Dream selected Paopao with the 18th overall pick in the 2025 draft, targeting elite shooting and championship pedigree.[10](https://dream.wnba.com/news/atlanta-dream-target-elite-shooting-versatility-and-championship-pedigree-with-two-picks-in-2025-wnba-draft) She opened her rookie season in the starting lineup on May 16, posting 7 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, and a team-high plus-minus of +6 against Washington, and on June 15 delivered a breakout performance with a career-high 16 points and 5 assists against the same opponent.[3](https://www.wnba.com/player/1642804/te-hina-paopao/bio) Later that season she logged a career-high 37 minutes at Dallas on July 30, nearly posting a triple-double with 11 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists, and closed the regular season with 14 points and 8 assists against Dallas on August 29.[3](https://www.wnba.com/player/1642804/te-hina-paopao/bio) The Dream described her as a key rotational piece in the backcourt who showed poise and steady progression throughout her first season, in which she averaged 3.7 points, 0.8 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game.[3](https://www.wnba.com/player/1642804/te-hina-paopao/bio) Atlanta went 30-14 in 2025, the most wins in franchise history.[11](https://www.thestate.com/sports/college/university-of-south-carolina/usc-womens-basketball/article314748820.html)
In the 2026 offseason she played for Gold Rush in Athletes Unlimited Basketball.[11](https://www.thestate.com/sports/college/university-of-south-carolina/usc-womens-basketball/article314748820.html)
## Heritage and public profile
Paopao is of Samoan descent. At the 2025 draft, appearing on television from her draft party in California, she wore a traditional Samoan dress and several flower lei, saying, "I am so blessed to be Samoan... When you think of Samoan culture you think of family and I am so ready to bring that culture to Atlanta." About 300 family members and friends gathered behind her at the party.[12](https://apnews.com/article/0985ccad20045f6b3803805f247c3ce5)
## References
1. [Te-Hina Paopao, 2025 Draft Prospect, WNBA.com](https://www.wnba.com/draft/2025/prospects/196367/te-hina-paopao)
2. [Te-Hina Paopao, Women's Basketball Roster, University of Oregon Athletics](https://goducks.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/tehina-paopao/11376)
3. [Te-Hina Paopao Bio, WNBA.com](https://www.wnba.com/player/1642804/te-hina-paopao/bio)
4. [South Carolina Women's Basketball Game Notes vs NC State (2024)](https://gopack.com/documents/download/2024/11/8/02_SCNotes-vsNCState.pdf)
5. [TE-HINA PAOPAO, South Carolina Gamecocks NCAA Tournament Game Notes (2025)](https://storage.googleapis.com/gamecocksonline-com/2025/04/c186539e-38_scnotes-ncaa5.pdf)
6. [How Te-Hina Paopao's family-first culture helped in her journey to South Carolina WBB, The State](https://www.thestate.com/sports/college/university-of-south-carolina/usc-womens-basketball/article281926733.html)
7. [Te-Hina Paopao College Stats, Sports-Reference](https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/te-hina-paopao-1.html)
8. [South Carolina finishes perfect season with NCAA championship, beating Clark and Iowa 87-75, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/80c556d6a9130a301d0f59e6eb997a4d)
9. [Defending national champion South Carolina returns to title game with 74-57 rout of Texas, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/9181f9d8ecc8513d2284cf0da468e3fc)
10. [Atlanta Dream Target Elite Shooting, Versatility and Championship Pedigree with Two Picks in 2025 WNBA Draft](https://dream.wnba.com/news/atlanta-dream-target-elite-shooting-versatility-and-championship-pedigree-with-two-picks-in-2025-wnba-draft)
11. [Former Gamecock Te-Hina Paopao on WNBA rookie year, AU stint, The State](https://www.thestate.com/sports/college/university-of-south-carolina/usc-womens-basketball/article314748820.html)
12. [Fashion, heritage and talent: Players turn the WNBA draft into a cultural showcase, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/0985ccad20045f6b3803805f247c3ce5)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Basketball and court team sports › Basketball players and coaches (biographies) › WNBA players*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license